Devils superstar-turned-quitter Ilya Kovalchuk wants a redo in time for next season and is in talks with his former NHL club to return next season.

Could this be true?

Or is this just a ridiculous rumor started on Twitter by Dino Costa, a controversial sports radio host who was fired by SiriusXM last October.

Well, here's what NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly had to say last summer after Kovalchuk retired from the Devils with 12 years and $77 million on his contract, and then went home to Russia and signed a four-year contract with the Kontinental Hockey League:

1. Unless Kovalchuk sits out a full season of professional hockey anywhere in the world, he cannot return to the NHL without consent from all 30 franchises until 2018-19.

2. If Kovalchuk sits out a full season of pro hockey, he can only return with the Devils’ consent until 2018-19.

3. Beginning in 2018-19, Kovalchuk will be 35, removed from the league’s voluntary retirement list and free to sign with any NHL team as a free agent.